RAMALLAH, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestine said on Wednesday that the measures taken by Israel in East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque are "null and void," a day after Israeli police banned Palestinians from entering the holy site.
In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of attempting to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque, and shutting down the nearby building of Bab Al-Rahma to limit the access of Palestinians into it.
Bab Al-Rahma, which has been used by Palestinians for praying, teaching and organizing social, cultural and religious events, was closed by Israeli authorities in 2003, but Palestinians managed to open it in 2019. Since then, Israel has repeatedly threatened to shut it down again.
"We will continue our efforts to take all Israeli violations against the mosque to relevant legal international bodies," the statement added.
The statement came a day after tensions mounted in East Jerusalem when Israeli police assaulted Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque and arrested 12 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to the Jewish people as the Temple Mount, is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. It is considered to be one of the most volatile sites in the region.
